IVA
Your IVA completion certificate: what it is, when it arrives, how to chase it
Your completion certificate is the proof your IVA is finished. This guide explains what it is, why it matters, and exactly what to do if it has not arrived.
- Proof it is done
- Why it matters
- How to chase it
Free to use, no obligation. The plan itself won't affect your credit score. It is not advice, and acceptance is never guaranteed.
Written and reviewed by the AfterMy team · Last reviewed October 2026
Quick answerYour completion certificate is the formal confirmation from your insolvency practitioner that your IVA has finished and you have met your obligations. It does not arrive the day of your last payment. It can take a few weeks after your final payment, and sometimes longer. If it has not arrived, chase your IVA firm in writing first, then escalate through the Insolvency Service complaints gateway if you get nowhere. Keep the certificate safe once it lands, because lenders and credit reference agencies may ask for it.
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What is an IVA completion certificate?
Your completion certificate is a formal document issued by your insolvency practitioner, the person who supervised your IVA. It confirms that your arrangement has ended and that you have done everything it required of you.
Alongside the certificate, your supervisor prepares a final report and notifies your creditors and the Insolvency Service that the arrangement is complete. From that point, the debts included in your IVA are treated as settled under its terms, and creditors cannot pursue you for them.
The certificate is your formal proof that the IVA finished properly. It is worth treating like any other important legal document.
When does the certificate arrive?
It may not arrive on the day of your final payment, and that is normal. Before your supervisor can close the arrangement, they usually need to complete a final review, distribute remaining funds to creditors and file a final report.
It can take a few weeks after your final payment, and sometimes longer. Timescales vary from firm to firm.
If your IVA included a property review or a final windfall check, that can add time too. A short wait is not a sign that anything is wrong.
Finished your IVA? Your Comeback Plan maps your dates and shows options from our panel you may be able to apply for.
Start your Comeback PlanWhy the certificate matters
The certificate is the cleanest proof that your IVA ended and that you completed it, rather than it failing. That matters in a few practical situations.
Some lenders ask to see it when you apply for credit after your arrangement. It is also useful evidence if your credit reports are slow to update: an IVA that wrongly shows as active is a damaging error for a file to carry, and the certificate lets you dispute it with the credit reference agencies.
Checking all three of your reports after completion is worth doing regardless, and you can do it for free.
How to chase a missing certificate
Start with your IVA firm. Contact them in writing, ask for your completion certificate and a copy of the final report, and keep a record of when you asked.
If weeks pass with no meaningful reply, send a formal complaint to the firm itself, as they must have a complaints process. If that still gets you nowhere, you can escalate through the Insolvency Service complaints gateway, which passes complaints about insolvency practitioners to their regulator.
If your original firm has closed or transferred your case, the Insolvency Service can also help you find out who now holds your records.
Chase in writing, keep copies, and escalate through the Insolvency Service complaints gateway if your firm does not respond.
What happens to the register and your credit file
Completion sets two other things in motion. Your entry on the Individual Insolvency Register does not vanish overnight: it is deleted three months after the Insolvency Service is notified that your IVA has finished.
Your credit file works on a different clock entirely. The IVA marker stays on your reports for six years from the date the arrangement started, or until completion if your IVA ran longer than that, and it should show as completed once the agencies are updated.
For the full picture of what that means in practice, read our guide to what happens to your credit score when your IVA completes.
How AfterMy fits in
AfterMy works with people who have just finished a debt arrangement. Your Comeback Plan maps your dates and shows options from our panel you may be able to apply for. Once your completion certificate arrives, keep it somewhere safe.
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Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long after my final IVA payment will I get my completion certificate?
There is no fixed deadline from your final payment, and timescales vary by firm. It can take a few weeks after your final payment, and sometimes longer. The final report and creditor distributions have to be completed first. If you have heard nothing after a few months, chase your firm in writing.
What if I have lost my IVA completion certificate?
Contact the firm that supervised your IVA and ask for a replacement copy or a letter confirming completion. Firms keep records of closed cases, and if the firm no longer exists, the Insolvency Service can help you trace who holds your file.
Do lenders need to see my completion certificate?
Not always, but some ask for it, and it is the cleanest proof that your arrangement completed rather than failed. It is also useful when asking credit reference agencies to correct a report that still shows your IVA as active.
Does the certificate remove the IVA from my credit file?
No. The IVA marker stays on your credit reports for six years from the start date, or until completion if your arrangement ran longer. What should change is its status: it should show as completed, and the debts in it as satisfied. If your reports have not updated, you can dispute them using your certificate as evidence.
My IVA firm is not responding. Who do I complain to?
Put a formal complaint to the firm first. If that does not resolve it, use the Insolvency Service complaints gateway, which passes complaints about insolvency practitioners to their regulator.
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